Miami Heat star wing Jimmy Butler was eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension earlier this offseason, which essentially would’ve tacked on an extra $59 million to his current contract. He chose not to sign it, and will be eligible for an even greater payday next offseason, which will be the final year of his current deal.
The caveat is his 2025-26 deal is a player option. Should Butler hit free agency, New York Post NBA writer Stefan Bondy suggests that he would have interest in one Eastern Conference bottomfeeder: The Brooklyn Nets.
“Butler reportedly has decided he’ll play out next season and won’t extend in Miami ahead of his opt-out in 2025,” Bondy wrote last week (subscription required). “The odds of him picking up his player option are slim unless he agrees to a max deal with the Heat beforehand. The six-time All-Star is the most accomplished standout on that list not named James, and he likes Brooklyn, according to sources close to the player.”
Per the (possibly biased) NY Post, the Brooklyn Nets are a potential destination for Jimmy Butler, who will have ample cap space to bring in a max contract:
“Butler reportedly has decided he’ll play out next season and won’t extend in Miami ahead of his opt-out in 2025. The odds… pic.twitter.com/hay2QG9QyD
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) August 31, 2024
Heat president Pat Riley made it quite clear that he wants Butler, who’s played in 75 percent of the team’s regular season games just twice in five years, to play in the regular season. For him to offer Butler a max deal–assuming he opted out–he would have to do just that.
Butler’s been linked to multiple teams this offseason, including the Philadelphia 76ers–before they blew all their cap space–Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. Linking him to the Nets is … well, interesting.
We went over their offseason Tuesday, and one thing is apparently clear: Brooklyn’s not in any position to contend. They traded Mikal Bridges for five first-round picks and could be in position to flip Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson and Dennis Schroder for more by next February’s trade deadline.
If we know anything about Butler: He not only wants to win, but to win now. To add onto that, he’s at the stage of his life where winning a championship is priority 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6! Coming off arguably the most serious injury of his career, the soon-to-be 35-year-old doesn’t have any time to wait! The two timelines between Butler’s own interests and Brooklyn makes zero sense. Zilch. Zip. Nada.
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Very interesting conversation regarding Bam, Jimmy, Jaquez, and Herro, when you have the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcAyvi7MhBY
Agree 100%. But hopefully he doesn’t go all girlie looking at camp like last year. Not a good optic trying to impress any team offering a max deal.
I agree.
remember dennis rodmans look.as long as u produce who gives a fuk.jimmys never in ja morant trouble
It’s hard to take Jimmy seriously when he goes all Marlon Wayons on us. https://img.wattpad.com/b9348c8a4feeb6bb736612d0406b59b5d10aba3f/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f76534335747961455f5a486243513d3d2d3830333333363237332e313564353566656138383232356538363332343038303132363734302e6a7067
Time for Jimmy to grow up.
NBA Rumors: Heat Will Have Multiple Position Battles
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/nba-rumors-heat-will-have-multiple-position-battles/ar-AA1pWrSK?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=932dd5648b3b4213bbc817ed03b26a16&ei=36
Butler missed the boat in Miami three years ago when he pushed to bring in his buddy, Lowry, when there were other, better options available. Riley granted his wish and 3 years/$90 million later, the team suffered for it. Lowry was averaging 8.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 4.0 apg in 2024 before he was traded.
It’s nice to want to have his cake and eat it too (make max $ and win a title). However, if he stays in Miami and Jaquez makes a jump in performance to the next level, Butler will be expendable. At that point, he can opt in for 2025-2026, opt out and walk away at the end of the season, negotiate a discounted two-year extension (if Miami chooses to offer him an extension) or agree to a sign & trade (if Miami chooses to explore a trading partner).
Butler can come into camp with a mindset to lead, follow or get the hell out of the way. The sooner he makes his mind up, the better it will be for the team. If he doesn’t come in with the right attitude, prepared to do his best to resurrect “Playoff Jimmy”, I prefer that he move on, preferably sooner than later.
Meanwhile, Miami needs to continue developing it’s younger players and team chemistry and make the most of the current situation.
GO HEAT!!!
Jimmy likes living in miami.If he didnt like the area id think he would have demanded a trade by now.If he were to lead the heat to a champ that would put him in the hof.Not sure he has the juice in his legs left to be a ss.Pat failed to get jimmy the additional piece jimmy needed.I dont believe this is a champ roster.Look at bostons roster and i dont see the heat beating them in a playoff series.ditto ny and prob phily.This is on pat for not getting the right piece for prime jimmy.Depending how the season is going might be time to trade jimmy and build around bam terry jaime ware.
I agree. With Miami’s limited cap room. Riley did the best he could to get Butler some help. He brought in Kyle Lowry at Jimmy’s request @ three years/$90 million. Two and a half of Jimmy’s prime years later, the team had nothing to show for it. Riley then traded Lowry and a first round pick and brought in Terry Rozier. Unfortunately, Butler, Rozier, Herro and others spent considerable time on the dl after that. Consequently, the team never was fully healthy nor did it have time to gel. I’m willing to give Jimmy one more chance to show that he is serious about winning and willing to “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.” Otherwise, sayonara!
I think he always wanted to win but when those legs get old u have to pace yourself and cant go all out all the time.Jimmys prime years are in the rear view mirror.Prob better off getting him to a team thats a vet away from a ring and going young and retooling.BAM jjr ware terry is a decent nucleus.Jimmys salary relief should free up pat to get a 2 way stud
nothing to show we have 2 silver medals coolio once jimmys gone the expectations are lowered
If his goal was a gold the silvers mean nothing. Lowry had nothing to do with first one and little to do with second.
of couse the goal is gold,but maybe if spo took crowder off ad or if they had a true 7footer or if jimmy had more stamina or if ty doesnt get hurt all the time..i have been thoroughly entertained and enjoyed butlers run here.kept us in playoff mode throughout.ty jimmy gonna miss u when u dont put on that heat uni
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed it too, while it lasted. I’m not very impressed by his most recent version. Too many days off. Too much coasting. Too many outside activities. Too much sense of entitlement. He seems to think he deserves getting paid in the future for what he did in the past. Even D Wade learned it doesn’t work that way.
His body is breaking down nowHe prob should be traded now while his value is still pretty high.He cant go all out all the time.Prob time to move him unless pat thinks he can win a title.If everything goes in their favor,they could be a scary terry team,The chances of that are not that great though.Just think of jimmy on dallas okc minn could put them over the edge for a ring